Foot supporting device



Nov. 29, 1960 w. M. SCHOLL FOOT SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1958 WUIMm M. ficfio/l United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in a foot supporting device, and more particularly to a device to underlie and support the scaphoid or navicular bone of the foot, as well as the adjacent bones in the inner longitudinal arch, the device being highly desirable for use in connection with weak feet, fallen arches, and for children with pronated feet, although the device will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilledf in the art.

In the past, many and various types of scaphoid and longitudinal arch supporting devices for insertion in shoes and other articles of footwear have :been developed, but these formerly known devices were allochiral in character, in some cases did not adequately support the scaphoid, and in most cases were not accurately positionable within the shoe in a semi-permanent manner to remain in the shoe, fit the interior of the shoe snugly, and not become displaced during use. Inmost cases, too, these formerly known devices were objectionably expensive, particularly for main childrens shoes where frequent replacements are required by virtue of the rapidly growing feet.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a foot supporting device, highly suitable for supporting the scaphoid bone and adjacent parts of the longitudinal arch, which is simple and economical in construction and which is symmetrical so that the same device may be used for either foot.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a foot supporting device for disposition in an article of footwear beneath the longitudinal arch of the foot, and which is so constructed as to remain permanently in position during the life of the shoe, and snugly fit against the inside of the shoe upper.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of a longitudinal arch supporting member for disposition in a shoe or the like, which member is wedge shaped in character, gradually increasing in thickness from the inner edge toward the outer edge, and terminating at the outer edge in an inwardly and downwardly sloping wall, whereby the member snugly fits against the upper inside the shoe.

A further object of the instant invention resides in the provision of an arch supporting appliance for disposition in a shoe or the like, which appliance is symmetrical in character and so may be used for either foot, and the appliance is preferably made in various sizes and various thicknesses, so that a chiropodist or doctor can very quickly select the proper size and equally as quickly afiix it into a shoe in the correct position, whereby adjustments of the supporting device are never necessary.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of an arch supporting device comprising a supporting member having a simulated leather covering thereover, and provided with adhesive means for aifixing the same to the interior of the shoe, whereby when the 2 device is installed in the shoe, it becomes in eflect an integral part of the shoe and presents the appearance of being such.

Still another feature of the instant invention resides in an arch supporting device so economical -in construction as '-to .warrant frequent replacement, particularly the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with thewhen utilized with the growing feet of children.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from accompanying drawing, in which vFig. 1 is a top plan view'of a foot supporting device embodying principles of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom planview of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a ,diagrammatical view, with parts broken. away, showing the disposition of the device in a shoe beneath a skeleton foot of the user; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse crosssectional view of the device disposed in a shoe.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention comprises a supporting member 1 (Fig. 4) which is preferably molded of sponge or foam rubber, a chemical foam such as polyvinyl chloride, or any other suitablematerial capable of providing a resilient and yet direct and substantial support to the foot disposed thereon. It will be noted that this piece of material is preferably wedge shaped and when placed in a shoe or thelike, the thin edge of the member, 1 is disposed inwardly of the foot and the thicker edge is disposed againstthe upper of the shoe so as to effectively provide a lift beneath the inner longitudinal arch of the foot.

The member 1 is preferably covered, and to accomplishthis a top cover member 2 and a bottom cover member 3 are utilized, and these cover members are secured to each.

other around the bounding edgeof the supporting memher 1. .While it is not essential that the cover members be made of any specific material, it is preferable to utilize a thermoplastic film for this purpose. The top cover 2 might be a polyvinyl chloride unsupported film made in simulation of leather so that it provides an excellent appearance. The under cover 3 is preferably an extremely thin thermoplastic film such as a polyvinyl chloride film or a cellulose acetate film or any other suitable substance that might be heat sealed to the upper film; preferably the two covers are joined together in a very fine line heat seal seam defining the contour of the resultant article. Should the member 1 be made of a polyvinyl chloride foam or the like, it might be caught in the heat seal seam as well, but this is not essential. As seen best in Fig. 1, the upper cover which is the thicker of the two is preferably extended on the outer side of the device so as to provide a slight curvature as indicated at 4, so that when the device is disposed within an article of footwear such as a'shoe or the like, as shown in Fig. 4, the curvature 4 provides an extremely neat marginal fit with the shoe upper 5.

The bottom cover is preferably provided with pressuresensitive adhesive 6 on its under or exposed surface, by means of which the device is positioned in a shoe so as to in effect become an integral part of the shoe. It is intended that the device remain in the shoe during the life of the shoe or until it becomes necessary to substitute another device of different dimensions, as may be the case in regard to a childs growing foot.

Now as seen best in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the inner edge of the completed article, and this is caused by the shape of the supporting member 1, is in the form of an are 7 which is in the general nature of a small end of a rather large ellipse. The outer side edge of the device is defined by an are 8 of materially Patented Nov. 2-9, 1960 p greater radius than the are 7 so that it better fits against the inside of the shoe upper. The outer edge of the device is in the form of an inwardly and downwardly sloping wall as indicated at 9, terminating at the bottom in "a relatively sha'ip line 10 which approximately conne'ct's theintersect'ing points of the arcs 7 and 8, as seen bestin Fig. 2. This sharp edge or line 10 may then be disposed in the shoe at the point where the upper connects with the structural insole of the shoe. The bottom cover 2 curves over the sloping edge or wall 9 at the thickest portion of the device and extends upwardly to be joined with the top cover 1 at the top edge of that edge or wall. Even on the portion thereof that underlies the edge or wall 9, the bottom cover is preferably provided with a p-ressure sen'sitive adhesive spread.

With the device so shaped, when placed in a shoe or the like 11 as seen in Fig. 3', it will be noted that the device particularly underlies the scaphoid bone of the foot shown in dotted lines and indicated by numeral 12. Obviouslyfthe device lends support to adjacent bones and the adjacent parts of the longitudinal arch, as well. Now with reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the device sits in position in the shoe and snugly fits against the shoe upper 5, so that actual support to the foot is carried under the fleshy part of the arch where it swells laterally beyond the structural insole of the shoe.

It will also be especially noted that with the instant invention only one form of device need be manufactured. The single device will fit adequately in either shoe merely by rotating the device 180 from its position in one shoe to fit it properly within the other shoe. This provides a considerable saving in the cost of manufacture, since only one particular shape of device need be provided against the allochiral structures heretofore needed to form a pair of supporting members.

It will also be especially noted that when the device is made in numerous sizes and numerous thicknesses, it is a simple expedient for a chiropodist or doctor to select the properly sized device for a particular foot, secure the same in its required position of adjustment within a shoe where the device remains during use. No adjustments of the selected device are necessary and the entire matter can be handled in minimum time. Should a growing foot, or favorable progress of theaffiiction warrant a change in size of device, it is a simple expedient for a doctor to rip out the old device and substitute a new one of the now proper size. The device is sufiiciently economical to warrant changing of devices at intervals if such treatment is indicated. It might also be mentioned that when the device is in place in a shoe, it appears to be an integral part of the shoe, and provides substantially the same feel to the foot as the interior parts of the shoe, with the exception of the lifting aid providedbyitf i It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the'present invention.

I claim as my invention:

A scaphoid support for adhesive securement in a shoe, comprising a resilient cuneiform supporting member having a convex upper face, a fiat bottom face for disposition on the insole of a shoe, and an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall joining said faces on the outer and thicker side of the member and for disposition against the upper of a shoe beneath the longitudinal arch of the foot, said faces meeting in a fine line curvate inner edge connecting with the ends of said wall whereby said fiat face is approximately half a wide ellipse, the edges of said wall having materially less curvature whereby said wall has the external shape of a narrow elongated ellipse, an adhesive spread carried by said member over the flat face thereof, and said member being symmetrical about the transverse median line thereof to shape the support for use with either foot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,448 Whitman Aug. 3, 1948 2,477,588 Dumm Aug. 2, 1949 2,546,827 Lavinthal Mar. 27, 1951 2,620,484 Gerry Dec. 9, 1952 2,760,281 Cosin Aug. 28, 1956 2,762,134 Town Sept. 11, 1956 

